see my next entry

A real treat this afternoon at the local swimming pool,  instead of having to zig zag through the other swimmers, avoid being dive bombed and generally get frustrated, I found myself all alone in the pool for thirty five minutes, supervised by two lifeguards -  not very often this happens, so I made the most of it.

Talking to a local shopkeeper who told me that one of our taxi drivers had charged a man in a wheelchair £40 for a fare from Penicuik to Dalkeith on Christmas Day -  and another today was saying that he could not afford to take time off on a Saturday in Edinburgh as he was earning up to £300 a day !!!   Pirates of the road right enough.

Last message now in outer space.

Second attempt at this post, back on the HP which went into the middle of nowhere last night.
Had written about the pleasures of having Penicuik  swimming pool to myself for forty minutes yesterday, what a treat compared to Monday and today when pool was busy and it was a zig zag around the pool to avoid being sunk.
Kind of stormy today, few wild squalls but nothing near as bad as our friends are having elsewhere in the UK - bit of a nightmare.  tend to agree with those who feel that money targeted for foreign aid should be invested in assisting with the flood damage here.  
Was at the ERI today when rains were at their  worst so had to wait in the car then make a run for it - so a second pre - admission visit, usual series of tests, so hopefully things will not be botched up this time when I take that slow walk again on the 11th Jan.
The  Lothian and Borders Police facebook page is superb,  brings back lots of memories -  pure coincidence tonight when I came home having popped a letter in to ABD - Andrew Donaldson, and a short time later saw him in a photograph taken on a gold outing in North Berwick

First post by an Apple

New toy to play with.  An I pad, so here I go again having to learn something new.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and now Sunday roast day,  Mercat Grill has kept us all on our toes.  Once again we have been lucky with the weather, although plenty rain nothing as bad as the poor folks have been having down south. Seems that it will take years to make good the terrible damage caused by the floods.
Lot of flu about, fingers crossed that I do not catch it.
Edinburgh managed to beat Glasgow at the rugby today, full house at Murrayfield,  gives Edinburgh the chance to stay in contention in the super league.
Still no news as to when flights will be resumed to Sharm el Sheikh, what a shame for the hotels over there. Not even listed on the holiday sites yet - perfect example of economic warfare.

Christmas Day in the workhouse - for some.

Merry Christmas to everyone -  and I was right about the no more sleeps,  as I ended up dozing in my chair most of the night, perhaps fair excited at the prospect of seeing Santa !!  however, no such luck, must have sneaked in and out like a wee mouse.   Bit of a contradiction as I did end up back in bed at 6.45am and actually slept for a couple of hours.

Had planned on taking a full load of goodies down to the Mercat Grill early this morning, however young RGB saved me the trouble -  BUT  he did forget a couple of things which gave me an excuse to get out the "Steed of Steel" and have a gentle canter down to Whitecraig to see the "troops" who have done an exceptional job in treating a full house to a wonderful meal.   Unable to resist getting my hands wet so I did manage to help with the washing up for a bit.

Congratulations to Brenda Pryde and also Derek Dinse who got engaged last night - not to each other, but to their respective partners !!!!   Well done.

Now sitting patiently for dinner and then time to see if I have received any new socks, etc.

For some - no more sleeps till X-Mas

Christmas Eve again, and very soon X-mas day, the Boxing Day when we will be wondering what all the fuss was about.  There will no doubt be someone who has just remembered something they should have bought !!  too late - just need to eat something else, or swap the label from one of the other presents.   Shops were a bit quieter today, although Penicuik was gridlocked - no idea why,  big queues at the filling station - so no idea where folks plan on going before the next fill up .  Tesco shut for two days - panic - seems like the populace is stocking up just in case storm EVA strikes.

Probably a bit of Ba Humbug from me,  but is it not just a monumental marketing rip off - people paying well over the odds for items which will be on sale on Boxing Day - there was even a store in England selling x-mas trees for 1p just to get rid of them.

We all have our new food recycling pots, how much of the food bought in the last three days will end up being thrown out or wasted.

Great excitement as the men from "Leggoland" managed to get the Forth Road Bridge fixed and opened in time for all those trapped in Fife to get home to meet Santa -  Mrs B is still convinced that it will fall down soon !!   No faith at all in gaffer tape.  I wonder if all those who cancelled their Xmas dinner at the Hawes Inn have called to rebook.

Very busy at the Mercat Grill, (massive well done to the staff) just a pity I am not fully fit in order to help out in my usual style - just able to dodge about and take my time - perhaps in three months time - after the big fix and a period of recovery I will be my old self again.

So - for those in the land of upside down people - Merry Christmas,  and for those still waiting  - merry Christmas when it comes.

Well done Andy Murray

Massive congratulations to Andy Murray and the Great Britain Davies Cup team for winning both the Sportsman of the Year Award and the best sports team of the year award run by the BBC - superb show tonight from Belfast, well worth watching.

Very busy week for all at the Grill, going hammer and tongs every day, certainly no rest for the wicked as they say, and despite my current health problems just have to keep going.    Word from the medics to confirm that next attempt at a repair will be 11th January . Happy New Year,  better be fit in time for some holidays.

Missed the final big bang at Cockenzie power station on Thursday afternoon, although I believe that there are still some internal pillars standing - looks like that will be a clean up job for next year.

Plenty X mas cards dropping in on the house - received a lovely wee one from Aaron Maynard made in the school .

Bookies still not sure if we are going to get a white X mas,  despite the chaos with the snow a few days ago,  we have had a really mild spell since then, although windy enough to keep the bird feeders swaying and tipping out the seed - on the plus side, there is still plenty of food about for our feathered friends.

Still not been able to get the Steed out on the road, bit annoying.

Getting hectic again.

Just think, I should have been on the mend by now,  instead, back at work in the Grill, helping out at this busy lead up to X-mas ,  just as well things were delayed for a few weeks.

Heard a bit of an understatement by a weather forecaster   " bit damp"  he said,   damp,  been pouring buckets and blowing a gale - my "Star Buy" greenhouse, which took days to build,  was demolished - same way that the big bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down.

Been fun and games in the Grill with the Christmas dinners and parties leading up to the arrival of Santa Clause !!    We had sixteen Santa's all in costume for dinner on Friday night, great atmosphere with everyone having a sing a long, excellent food, and staff getting a real buzz from the crowd -  but as they say "you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time" a table of three adopted my "Ba Humbug" attitude, just because things were jumping !!  Well, it is nearly X-mas I think and the majority of folks were wanting to enjoy themselves.

On the down side, spotted the "polis" out on Saturday morning at Milton Bridge, having a random go at drivers, no doubt looking for someone to breathalyse.     Pity they were not out at night stopping one eyed monsters or bloody cyclists without lights, and mobile phone users.

Back at the Grill, Santa Clause had made a couple of surprise appearances already this week, much to the delight of the customers, even wee gifts on hand.   BUT this morning it was the turn of Santa Paws to make an appearance for some of our four legged friends who arrived for doggy beer and muffins,

Santa even made time to cheer up the staff,   who seemed to already be enjoying themselves between customers !!!

Busy week ahead, just need to wrap up, wear oilskins, and keep taking the tablets.

Another NHS statistic

Sitting here at home this evening when I should have been lying in a hospital bed doped up to my eyes !!    Arrived at the ERI at 0700 this morning -  changed, all gowned and suited up when Dr arrived for a wee chat while the knives were being sharpened  !!  Discovered that I have been wrongly advised over the stopping of medications so decided that due to the increased risk element -  he would cancel the Operation while things were being sorted and then try again at a later date.  One "seriously miffed" individual headed back to work - good job I had not arrived in jammies and dressing gown as proposed.   BUT  BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

One consolation at least ,  I still have the Steed of Steel road taxed so I may even get out if the floods subside and the snow stays away.

Chaos and even more chaos - roads and bridges.

One more sleep , so to speak, and then time to get "cut up" once again- here's hoping they do a better job this time.

What a week we have had, traveled to Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday to join the family for the funeral of Stephen Boyd , RIP.
Returned home on Thursday and by tea time there was chaos with Penicuik under snow and everything  around this part of Midlothian ground to a halt, all gone the next  afternoon but  then the rains came bucketing down not just here but throughout the Borders and North west of England with devastation as rivers burst their banks and even more flooding than nine years ago.  Interesting that one area of serious flooding occurred along the course of an old river which was diverted hundreds of years ago by the Normans. Over the years a number of rivers have been diverted to make way for housing, etc,  but when the waters do come - they will always make for their original route.

Further chaos in the extreme with the Forth Road Bridge being closed to all traffic for an unspecified period of time, which could be months due to faults in the supporting trusses,  something first identified several years ago but ignored with the memo filed away. Could be a job for a really big roll of my gaffer tape !!!  Drivers face a forty four mile diversion, hours of slow moving traffic  - an economic disaster if ever was. So  now we have to wait for the next bridge to be finished - with Chinese made steel,  hope the SNP have more than a five year builders warranty on that one.

Have not checked out on the newest of the new build houses at Eskbank which have been built very very near to numerous massive trees - far too close I suspect,  but only time will tell.  I certainly would not be buying one !!!  even with a big lottery win - if ever, and they may also be lucky if they have a five year warranty.

Steed of Steel tucked up in the stable while I am out of action however, not for too long I hope.

Till the next time.

Davis Cup success.

Big well done to Andy and Jamie Murray and the rest of the British Davies Cup team who won the trophy this afternoon.  I dare anyone to slag the boys off, team Murray broke the back of the opposition, so they will be British today, and Scottish when they lose !!!

Just a shame that Mr Salmond was more interested in himself during the week than taking part in the debate on the terrorist crisis.  I see his prophecy about how rich Scotland would be with North Sea oil was sort of ever, ever so slightly off the mark -  I see our local Asda selling unleaded at 99.7p this morning.

I am hoping that NHS Scotland, run by the SNP government at Hollyrood does not go "ti*s up" this week and my appointment for the 7th cancelled along with the many other procedures which are
being postponed at short notice.  It must be soul destroying for all these dedicated members of staff to be working under such pressures and in some cases with one hand tied behind their backs (so to speak).

Had our writer of crime thrillers, Peter Ritchie, in for a coffee, cake and a catch up during the week -  working on a Novelette to be out for X-mas then he will start on his fifth "Grace Den Herder" book.

Few Masonic visits,  Currie;  Gorebridge (well done Simon Fairly); Loanhead RA - with candidate - very good.

Mercat Grill ticking along nicely, busy weekends and lots of folks enjoying the food and hospitality.

Sad news I am afraid

No -  I have not expired yet,  keep looking in the Edinburgh Evening News and no sign of my name yet - no excuses then for not writing - just too much and too many distractions.

Sadly and unexpectedly my Nephew died last Sunday, aged 43, our thought are with his family and parents.

Following the tragedy in Sharm el Sheikh, we had the shootings and bombings in Paris, aftermath in Belguim, and to in Malawi - with the French being the primary target.    As I keep saying, it is only a matter of where and when we in the UK will targeted again.      Sadly our politicians are brilliant at sitting on the fence with Corbyn and Sturgeon not winning many brownie points.

Weather now on the turn, lots of rain (no need for a hosepipe ban) enough wind to remove umpteen topees and make for a bumpy landing at Edinburgh Airport.  Tonight snow forecast for a wider area than the tops of the mountains -  Aviemore and the ski runs will be looking for a long winter season this year.

Had a job though the West during the week so while the "Steed of Steel" was resting I treated the "Time Machine" to a good thrashing on the Motorway,  (which is becoming more of a joke every time you travel it)  massive roadworks by Eurocentral which should help.   On the way, the usual hold ups causing frustration with lorry drivers taking ages to overtake - so much so that one van driver was seen to make a wild "undertake" on the hard shoulder !!!  not clever.

Last weekend very busy at the Mercat Grill, no no rest for the wicked, and just to prove how bad I have been,  back there this weekend - so having to miss the Grand Superintendent's Dinner at Bonnyrigg - apologies.   Even missed the 720 pensioner's dinner last week, but I am not sure if I am old enough to qualify.


Good news from Peter Ritchie who is now writing book number five - missed him this week when he came a looking for me at the Grill.   Anyone wanting a chat with a real life author - give me a call and see what can be arranged.

Meetings of 720 ; Loanhead and the OES this week, few more next week before I take enforced absence  - wee trip to the hospital and then a period of recovery so I will need to be good and behave.

Watching the brilliant  BBC TV special with Adele,  she is superb, very natural, interviews well , singing live - unlike Cheryl and the hopefulls on the second rate X-factor.

Might try to write again sooner

Needing some sunshine I think.

Sitting here with the makings of a gale blowing outside, certainly has me feeling peeved that there is still no news from Sharm, Egypt, apart from all the negatives which the media appear to thrive on.

Interesting the comments about the detector devices which have been fund to be worthless, which were sold in their hundred as part of a scam by a British businessman who made £millions  before he was caught and jailed.  If someone has lost their live due to his con  !!!

Busy day in the Grill, long one for me which proved to be a sore one for me - ruling out any doubts that my ailments were figments of my imagination.  Now just need to wait for a bed, etc - and with the latest news about bed blocking and the state of the NHS - signs of an aging population and visitors / immigrants !!!

Was back at Costco again today, which reminded me of yet another "bee in my bonnet" ,  watching all these folks munching away at the freebies, taking the wife and kids out for lunch !!  and 99.9% of them not interested in the slightest in buying the product.  If I am likely to buy I will sometimes taste, but otherwise I keep on walking.

Last weekend I watched the X factor, and on Sunday was so disappointed with the gutless judges who avoided making a decision and with the result that the better performer lost out - no more X factor for me.   Looks like it will be another book for me - so hopefully Peter Ritchie will have his fifth crime thriller finished fairly soon.

Very much against my will I was in Edinburgh on Tuesday night, what a nightmare, roads are a mess,roadworks in London Road so I took twenty five minutes to travel four hundred yards, cyclist a total hazard with no lights, dark clothing,  one eyed cars (lights) -  no pleasure at all and I am sure the Rdinburgh City Council are doing their utmost to discourage from coming into the town.

Letting off steam again.

Looks like the situation in Egypt will get a lot worse before it gets better - and in the meantime all the folks we know over there are doing their best to reassure us that the overall security is still good and being reinforced.  We will just have to wait and see - pity though as I could have done with a week away in the sun.

We have a saying in the security world, "it takes a serious incident like this to concentrate the mind", and folks here should do well to remember that !!!!  Where will it happen next?

BUT in the meantime life here goes on and I still get a few serious "bees in my bonnet".  Yesterday it was a group of cyclists (yes - more bloody cyclists) who I had to follow through a built up area for nearly two miles before they moved over and allowed me to overtake safely.

Item in the newspaper today about a school where the youngsters are encouraged to run a mile a day  !!   about time to,  as it is little wonder our country is tipping over with the ever increasing weight of the UK population.

I see Midlothian Council are doing their best to encourage a healthy eating culture !!!!!! they granted planning permission for a KFC and Burger King to be built at Straiton, extra competition for the nearby McDondald,s and Frankie and Bennies.   Going to need a fleet of Chelsea tractors to ferry the little darlings about.

Wee run down to Duns on the Steed of Steel where hopefully, a new inner tube in the front tyre will cure  a regular soft and save me a great deal of huffing and puffing.

Tragedy in Egypt

It has been a terrible couple of days following the news of the loss of the Russian airliner and the death of all its crew and passengers after it took off from Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.    Our sympathies must go to the families of the deceased.

At the moment there is still a great deal of speculation as to the cause but it does look as though it may well have been the work of a terrorist, even if it was not, the members of IS have already claimed that they were responsible, and having done so are are making great political headway from it.

We now have to consider the effects it will have on the local economy in and around Sharm where there has been massive investment to attract businesses and boost tourism and we now have the situation, that with the peak winter holidays only weeks away our Government has suspended all flights to and from the region.   Having visited Sharm on several occasions and made many friends amongst the staff in the hotel, we can only pray that things return to normality as soon as possible, and we can then return to see them.

A fine weekend

Lovely day here today weather wise,  not quite as nice as the South of France though.  Managed to get myself organised enough to have time to take a run out on the Steed of Steel.  Did my chores at the Mercat Grill, then headed off down the A68 and made my way to the ancient hospital site at Soutra Isle, spectacular views in three directions, just a shame that a band of trees stops the view to the west.  Early records for the site date back to 1164, although there was an older Roman Road running through the area even earlier than that.  Spent half an hour or so admiring the views and reading the several information panels and generally just enjoying the peace and quiet, sunshine and fresh air.  Thereafter, made for the A7 and south  through Stow, Clovenfords, Innerleithen, Peebles, Portmore and then home.  Pleasant round trip of about seventy miles.

Good final match of the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand taking the cup for the second time in a row.   Might have supported the upside down lads had not been for a few e mails from one of Botany Bay's finest who kept telling me how well the Wallabies would do !!!!

Ranger's unbeaten run broken today by the HiBees which will make the league much more exciting now.

Bit of a crunch with a difference tonight as a tooth broke - looks like the dentist will get a call in the morning and I will be on "saps" for a wee while.

Losing the "get up and go"

Having a bit of a boring time these days as the old body is hindering me a bit - as the old saying goes the Spirit is willing but the body is weak,   so the sooner I get things fixed the better.

Steed of Steel getting a bit of a rest although I will hopefully get out for a wee run some time over the next few days.

Bit of excitement yesterday with a visit to the cinema to see the new James Bond movie, "Spectre" which I really enjoyed - a bit deeper than previous movies in the series, however, it made sense to me - plenty of action at times, Lord knows how these stuntmen do it without ending up in shreds.

Bit of a record for me - despite the fact it is claimed that a glass of red wine or a wee nip each day is good for you, I have had eight weeks "without a drop" !!!  even I am worried about me -  but that along with several sessions in the swimming pool each week will hopefully stand me in good stead for the forthcoming surgery - maybe then !!!!!

Rugby World Cup coming to an end this weekend, it has been a remarkable sporting event, massive crowds, no trouble at all, unlike our football spectators who should take heed.

I see Ms Sturgeon and the SNP have now promised to keep another couple of Scottish businesses which are under threat open - .

Heading into the dark times again.

Was in Edinburgh on the Steed of Steel during the week and came across what was obviously a major Police incident in Regent Road at Montrose Tce., lots of plain clothes officers.  Subsequently discovered from the Evening News a couple of days later that it was a joint operation with police Scotland and Fraud Officers from Metropolitan Police who arrested a couple who were involved in a £million fraud / scam, however one of the accused managed to escape at the scene.

Edinburgh City Council plan to spend Nine Million pounds on a cycle route through the centre of the City,  hope that they start to raise funds by issuing cyclist with fixed penalty tickets, Offences - no light on bikes; cycling on pavements; riding through red traffic lights, etc.   Last night I was sitting in the car when a female passed me going the wrong way up a one way street in the dark, no lights on the bike and texting as she was riding, and in the morning while stopped at a red light a cyclist came up the inside and just totally ignored the red light as he weaved through the crossing traffic.

Nicola (take a selfie|) Sturgeon last week promised that the Motherwell steel works would never be closed, this week she has modified the statement to "we will do everything we can to try and stop the plant closing".      Some recent surveys have shown that the SNP politics are dividing families and breaking down friendships - I know as it has happened to me with a couple of staunch SNP supporters.

I was form filling at the hospital mid week and one question asked if I needed an interpreter !!!!!!!!!!!  simple answer should be No - apart from Gaelic and Welsh speakers and bona fide visitors to the UK, with tourist or work visas, everyone should be required to speak English in public places in the UK. English should be the only language spoken in schools, apart from the teaching of foreign languages.

Had myself an interesting couple of hours out on the Steed of Steel, exploring back roads between Penicuik and Biggar which I have not been on for years - there are some smashing wee places right on my doorstep.

Installation at RA Laird of Cockpen this coming Tuesday night, start of a new session.

With the clocks changing this morning looks like there will soon be lots of SAD individuals wishing they could hibernate for the winter.

Bad luck Scotland

Still standing !!!  But waiting for a date to go back under the knife once again  - not a pleasant thought.

Shame that Scotland were pipped at the literal post yesterday -  twenty four seconds to go and what might have been a rash decision by the referee cost me the chance to poke a certain Aussie in the eye, who will no doubt be gloating when I was hoping he would be weeping in his beer.

Andy Murray well and truly whopped the other day - not on form - an understatement.

Had a run in with a white van man this morning at Milton Bridge - angry man behind the wheel, so that is one decorator I will not be offering work to.

Back to mobile phones and  texting at the wheel - when will drivers ever learn - nearly got swiped coming home today (by yet another white van man).

Had the Steed of Steel out for a quiet meander around some local back roads, one I had not been on for over twenty years, massive old rural hospital building , now vacant and falling down, what a shame.

Living opposite the school playing fields, which are now hired out to local football clubs, both adult and youngsters - the adult teams and support certainly need to learn how to shut their mouths - if they used the foul language I hear from the field and touchline down the street they would be reported for it.   Add that to the rubbish left behind for someone to collect - disgusting.

RA Installation at Tranent on Saturday night - excellent degree, good attendance, just a pity I was not able to stay for the meal and social.

Coco Black - Flying Scotsman.

While in Peebles this afternoon popped in to see Ruth Hinds at Coco Black.   Her feature pieces, made completely of chocolate are stunning.    Apologies for the background glare in some of the photos.

The  chocolate model of the Flying Scotsman train was made to be displayed to the Queen at the one of the events related to the recent opening of the WaverleyLine between Tweedbank and Edinburgh - however as HRM's  schedule was altered she did not get to see it -  instead a video of its production has been given to her.

Nice enough to eat - but "who dares" ?  - well done Ruth, magnificent.

Once again catch up time.

Just where does the time go these days ?

Anyway - big congratulations to the staff at The Mercat Grill who won the top award in two categories at the Annual East Lothian Food and Drink Dinner on Tuesday night at North Berwick.  Thanks to everyone for their hard work.

Was at Crieff last night for the R A Strathearn No 34  installation to see Kenny Jack back into the chair.   Good night apart from the problems with traffic both ways.  Coming back I got stuck on the by A720 city by pass late on due to a diversion for road works, however things were not helped as there had been a fatal hit and run accident on Comiston Road, near the Water Works and the Police had closed that road off also -  no consolation for the family of the deceased, a 54 year old pedestrian.

During the week I eventually made it across the fields ( despite there being a footpath !!!) to have a look at the Ramsay Monument close up -

Kind of overgrown around the site, however there are plans to tidy it all up and make it another feature point on the paths through and around Penicuik Estate.

Becoming obsessed with drivers using mobile phones in their vehicles, this morning, three who were texting with phones balanced on the steering wheels.

Just had yet another automated cold call wanting to tell me about the government scheme to replace my old boiler ,  time these so and so's were all shut down.   Homes under siege with folks afraid to answer their phones, which is really frustrating especially when you are waiting on specific calls.

Time to vent the spleen

Builders -  there is an extension being added to the garage at Whitecraig, the brickies are taking so long that I suspect the new third Forth Bridge will be finished before the garage. Only folk who must be happy are the scaffolding company who have the scaffolding up around the site - they are getting plenty of advertising. but it might be that their kit will be rusted over by the time it comes down.

Midlothian Council have had Rullion Road, Penicuik closed for months while they resurface the road, buses are diverted and many are having some distance to walk to the nearest temporary stops - they are even laying on taxis for those who cannot walk.   HOWEVER , not content with this closure they are shutting Mauricewood Road on Monday for five weeks to do the same thing, again with diversions and inconvenience -  with a cold winter forecast, at this rate the new surface will be damaged as it gets laid !!!

Cyclist are doing my head in - on the main roads, no lights and no Hi Viz clothing,  in Edinburgh it is a free for all, just not safe to drive at night for fear of hitting one of the many eejits on two wheels.
Dalkeith to Whitecraig at the weekend, a nightmare with the local cycling clubs taking over the road as they travel in big groups holding up the traffic - no road tax,   Pavements and roads used by all and hey even have the cheek to pull up at traffic lights, onto the pavement, hit the "green man", cross wih pedestrians and then back onto the road again.

Mobile phones -  now a daily occurrence to count drivers using their phones while on my way to work - cars, buses and lorries - one bloke followed me from Dalkeith to Rosewell last week with his apparatus firmly stuck to his ear.  Heads down you can spot those texting at the wheel.

Cold callers -  house is now under siege , no point in having a phone at home as 90% of calls are now either PPI; home insulation, etc.    We had three calls in one morning from the same firm,  started off as an innocuous call and just escalated as they elicited more and more details until we found out the true nature of the initial call - should be banned.
 

Signs of respect Bill Hermiston and Allan Black

Yesterday was kind of sad.     Initially I had planned on being on being either on Skye or in Crieff at one or other of two IPA events.  
However, that grim reaper who waits for us all at some stage - had other ideas.
  
Bill (Hermie) Hermiston, former Sergeant at Musselburgh and Prestonpans died after a period of illness so I joined many former colleagues at his funeral service in Mortonhall, Edinburgh. Large attendance , fine service with three different ministers doing different bits of the ceremony.  Bill had been a long time church elder at Gorebridge and a member at Heriot also - very well respected in his community.

At the same time another service was taking place at Prestongrange Church and Cemetery for Allan Black ,  well respected member of a number of masonic orders  who died in hospital following a heart attack last week.  Allan, a Past Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Royal Arch Chapter of Mid and East Lothian will be sadly missed - he was another of life's characters.

Just a shame I could not be in two places at once,  but my thoughts are with family and friends of both Hermie and Allan,  R.I.P.

Ice House, Roslin, Midlothian.

Laat week I had a closer look at the Dryden Tower which was erected by the owners of Dryden House, by Bilston, Midlothian, (Scotland).    Dryden House was demolished during the 1930's and is now beneath the waste from the former Bilston Glen Colliery.    Within the lands and built in to the south bank of the Killburn  (named after the many who died there during the Battle of Roslin 1302)  is a superbly constructed ice house,  one of several in the Edinburgh and Midlothian area.   The stone work is still in excellent condition, both externally and internally.

Gowk Stane, Auchencorth.

Lovely afternoon,  had originally planned on a wee ride out on the Steed of Steel,  however, not quite up to it so before the rugby started I had a wee walk over the Auchencorth Moor to the Gowk Stane  (another tick in the box).  In the middle of the moor  so I wonder why?

Not a lot really known about the history of the stone.     Some views of the Pentland Hills from the stone -

Oops - hope this was not a mistake.

Had been looking forward to seeing the big bang at Cockenzie Power Station as the two chimneys were felled - took a long time to build them and demolished in a matter of seconds.  Had originally planned on getting closer to the site, but several thousand others had the same idea, so I killed two birds with one stone - did my shopping at Bookers,  Musselburgh, and then, with five minutes to spare got set up in the car park at the rear looking across the bay to the site.

So down it went, however, look at the "stoor"   ( dust)  went everywhere, so no doubt Mr Dyson's wonderful product will be well used over the next day .

Headed home, and a short time later was driving east on the A702 towards Hillend - looking over to Cockenzie, really strange not seeing the familiar landmarks any more.

Penicuik House, Midlothian - another hidden gem.

Lovely day today,  at the Grill early and then home - so took myself off for a walk up into the Penicuik Estate.      Wonderful to see how the old Penicuik House, built by Sir James Clerk in 1761, has been made safe and visitors can now really get a feel of how beautiful it was in its heyday.

There are two statues on either side of the entrance, 

Not sure if either of these are Roman  but Clerk had a fascination for Roman and Greek artefacts and bought many which came from the Roman sites / forts at Cramond, on the River Forth and Middlebie  near Dumfries.
In 1899 a fire started in the House which burned for two days,  during which the family and staff were able to safe a great deal of property and documents, although the library was totally destroyed.

 The view from this side of the house over the valley is beautiful.

  From the South side of the house there is an avenue leading out towards the River Esk, and in the hillside opposite is an obelisk erected in memory of the local poet Alan Ramsay (1686 -1758)  who lived in nearby Carlops Village and who was a friend of the family and frequent visitor to Sir James.

Midway along the South Avenue is the pets cemetery where the Clerk family buried their faithful four legged followers.

The family now live in the adjacent house which some say was the old stable block, however other documents refer to the building as the Estate Offices, built when the original house went up, 

 The "Dookit" atop the building was built by Sir James Clerk around 1761 and is a model of the Roman Temple, on the River Carron, near Falkirk,  known as Arthur's O'on which was destroyed when the Carron iron Works were built.

Nice walk, well worth making the effort and taking the time to go and see it especially when the sun is shining.

Birds of a feather

Had originally planned on a bit of rant tonight, however, instead - having had a wee run over the moor road from Penicuik to West Linton earlier this evening I found more interesting things to comment on.

First I met two blokes out with their "birds"  that is, of the feathered variety, so stopped to speak and managed a couple of snaps of their Peregrine Falcons.

Further along the road I stopped to take a closer look at one of the man made towers which can be seen from the road,

These towers can be seen across country from here to Broughton and then  Tweedsmuir, as they mark the line of the underground water tunnel which carries the water from the Meggat / Tala Reservoirs , fed by natural gravity all the way to the Glencorse Reservoir.

Quiet wander through the Powder Mill Glen, Roslin

When I first started working at Loanhead in 1966, there was still an industrial presence in the Roslin Glen area.   I can remember visiting the carpet factory which was run by Henry Widnell and Stewart who also had two other factories in Bonnyrigg and Eskbank.    On the other side of the Powder Mill Brae was the site of the old gunpowder factory which opened in 1804 and operated for around one hundred and fifty years.    There was still a magazine on the Oatslie Road and I can recall checking it out when its licence was due for renewal.
However down in the Glen the main factory was falling into ruins. I took a wander down there today,m while the sun was shining and there were still leaves on the trees.

The gunpowder factory was a number of different buildings , many built into the hillside to absorb explosions (as accidents did happen) and the main power source came from waterwheels driven by water from the Esk diverted at a weir and running through sluices and tunnels.

I really needed more time to explore as there are ruins of a barrel factory further into the glen and nearer Auchendinny,  maybe another day.

Peter Ritchie - Where No Shadows Fall"

Had a chat to Peter Ritchie , former colleague from Dalkeith, now writing crime thriller novels.   He had already had a trilogy featuring Detective Grace Den Herder published,  so after much badgering from friends and fans has written a fourth book in the series,  "WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL" , which has just been released by Amazon today. Next download for my Kindle when I get this item on post.

A day out on on the coast of Berwickshire.

Keep running out of time to catch up with the Blog.    Wednesday night was fisrt of the season at Bonnyrigg for the Star.  Thursday, working during the day and then back down in the late afternoon to help with a small wedding party, followed by a Whiskey tasting for students from the local college (went very well) and another big group of diners.    However,  had decided that Friday was mine after my office work was done at the Grill.
Headed off East to Dunbar, stopped off at the the harbour where the tide was out and the local

fishermen were

getting some work done on their boats.    On my way out of Dunbar stopped to speak to a former Penicuik man who I knew from Penicuik Rugby Club days,  John Kirkhope.    Onwards alon the A1, and cut of to the tiny harbour at Cove, which is not all that easy to get to, so headed down in to Pease Bay where there is a caravan / holiday home site,  very nice in the sunshine.

Through the ford and then up the single track steep hill and turned left along towards Siccar Point, where in 1788 "Hutton's Unconformity" was discovered which proved the theories of the movement of the Earths various underlying plates - here at the point there is dramatic evidence of the plates coming together and being forced in different directions.  The cliffs here are a Geologists dream and they come from all parts of the world to see them.

  Near to the car park is the ruin of St Helen,s Chapel

Eventually found my way back onto the main road (  sat nav not working on the Steed of Steel,  wee wiring fault.
Lovely day by now so onwards through Coldingham and down into Eyemouth  where I stopped at the harbour for a roll and coffee.   Met a telephone engineer who originally lived in Penicuik, and whose father had been a manager in the former Valleyfield paper Mill until it closed.

Without the tide it kind of changes the look of things,  but a very interesting placeto visit , nice fresh seafood to be found everywhere along the harbour front.

Time pressing so onwards, into the countryside,  Ayton, Chirnside, and down to Duns where it was another roll and coffee at Border Bikes with Andy Mimms and his father at the workshop.   Big change in the weather compared to last week so I took the Westruther Road over the moors , through to Lauder, over the hill to Stow, south on the A7 to Bowland and then over onto the Galashiels - Glasgow road making for home via Walkerburn, Innerleithen and Peebles.   Home, feet up , jiggered.